Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

hello paul bradford:

I have two questions:
1. what is the deference between non toxic disco dust and non toxic glitter in craft store? can i use the craft non toxic glitter on my cake?

2. I have a problem to keep my fondant clean, when I’m worked with it on my very clean mat I saw a dust like very tiny something in it, is thats normal?

thank you very much for your effort

Hello Sema80

The official information on disco dust and glitter is documented by the FSA here:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2012/5102/glitter
There is lots more information from members if you type in the search box ‘glitter’.
The glitter used in craft making definitely can not be used on cakes. Those products are made from tiny bits of cut up plastics and must not be ingested or applied to any part of cake or decorations.

Keeping fondant totally dust and speck free can be a big problem. To minimise dust and fibres, wipe worktops down with cloths which do not shed fibres. J cloths are pretty good. I use heavy duty paper towels, the type you see Paul using sometimes. They come on big rolls and can be either white or blue. White would be preferable.
Wear a good quality overall so your own clothes are protected but also to keep contained any tiny fibres so these do not transfer to your fondant or worktop/mat. If you have long hair, tying it up or wearing a kitchen hat can help reduce any dust specks in hair falling. Nail polish can chip and get embedded into fondant so best removed before hand. Try and keep rolling out worktop completely clear of other items which also attract dust. Work mats and work tops attract dust particles and fibres because of static. All you can do is keep things wiped down as well as you can. Rolling pins in particular attract tiny particles. Wipe the pin down regularly during use to free off any tiny lumps of icing sugar and fondant or especially if it has been sitting a while. I know it’s a worry but dust particles are every where, it’s the stuff we’re all made of, they can never be totally eliminated! All you can do is work as hygenically as possible. I’m sure other members will say how they combat this aggravating problem.